Itinerary

Day 1
An historical Trappers Station, friendly sled dogs, a natural history museum and the magnificent Advent River Valley feature on our half-day tour of Longyearbyen, commencing at the airport soon after we arrive. Warmly welcomed on board our expedition ship, Polar Pioneer, in the late afternoon, pulse rates quicken as we depart along stunning Isfjorden, a wonderland of bird cliffs, sweeping glaciers and majestic mountains.

Days 2–3
Turquoise ice cliffs of the 14th July Glacier greet us, should we awaken in Magdalenefjorden, well north along Spitsbergen’s rugged west coast. As we soon learn, each day is action-packed, our itinerary dependent on weather, snow and ice conditions, and the presence of wildlife. Gulf Stream currents sweep up the coast, keeping temperatures relatively warm. Our Zodiacs carry us close to fantastic bird cliffs alive with guillemots and thick-billed murres. We’ll look for bearded seals with their quaint, curling whiskers, and visit Ny Ålesund in Kongsfjorden, once a mining town, now a polar research centre. At Amsterdamoya we stretch our legs with tundra walks, ever alert for reindeer and Arctic fox; poke about the remains of a 350-year-old Dutch whaling settlement and hear the tale of Swedish explorer Andrée’s ill-fated attempt to fly a balloon over the North Pole.

Days 4–6
We enter the Arctic Ocean, searching for beluga whales, pack ice and polar bears as we round the northwest corner of Spitsbergen and make our way down Woodfjorden. Ringed, bearded and even small numbers of harp seals can be seen, both from our ship and Zodiacs. On shore we stretch our legs, searching for trappers’ huts and keeping a watchful eye for reindeer and Arctic fox. Polar bears with cubs often hunt for eggs on Leifdefjorden’s islands, the breeding grounds of eider ducks, Arctic terns, Arctic skuas, great skuas, glaucous gulls and black-legged kittiwakes. Along the pack ice edge we stay alert for sightings of minke and other whales. The long days are perfect for relaxed wildflower walks, allowing us time to photograph some of the tundra’s 164 species of flowering plants, including purple saxifrage, exquisite yellow spider plants and Svalbard poppies. If ice conditions allow, we’ll attempt to
cross latitude 80° North – cause for celebration!

Days 7–10
Welcome to the wild side! Frigid Arctic currents sweep around Spitsbergen’s northeast corner, lowering air and sea temperatures, and creating a landscape worn down by severe frost. Even in summer, pack ice could bar our way. We attempt to pass through narrow Hinlopen Strait, between Spitsbergen and austere, ice-capped Nordaustlandet, sail down past Barentsøya and Edgeøya, eventually rounding South Cape. Our Russian crew and expedition staff call on their considerable expertise to reach some of the region’s highlights. We Zodiac cruise beneath Alkefjellt, sheer basalt cliffs that rise like an ancient castle more than 250-metres, adorned with some 200,000 nests of Brunnich’s guillemots literally buzzing with life. On Torrellneset, we could stealthily approach dozens of sleeping walrus. A true polar desert, the east coast offers walks among stunted glaciers, exposed fossil fields, and tundra, where we watch for Arctic fox, eider ducks and the elusive Svalbard ptarmi gan. We cross polar bear migration routes and may visit Sundeneset, a fertile plain covered in green mosses and delicate flowers, including the yellow marsh saxifrage. This is true expedition cruising, where our plans are dictated by ice conditions and our desire to explore. If pack ice allows, we’ll round

South Cape, returning to the world of open water and rugged coastal mountains, and sail north toward Hornsund and Bellsund. If ice stops us on the East side, we’ll simply adjust our itinerary, backtrack and delve deeper into the wonders of Spitsbergen’s north and west coasts, including a visit to Hornsund in the south, where little auks nest and darken the sky as they fly to and from their fishing grounds.

Day 11
An early morning cruise of Isfjorden returns us to Longyearbyen, the end of our memorable voyage and a transfer to the airport or our hotel.

Activities

How to Prepare

To ensure you have an enjoyable and safe expedition we have developed some import pre-departure information to help you prepare for your voyage. We strongly recommend you download the documents below and read carefully. Our reservation staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Before you depart for your expedition we will send you a detailed pack including your itinerary, travel documents and any other essential information relevant to your voyage.

Is your passport valid? 
Your passport will be required to have validity that will extend to six months after the date of your return.

Visa arrangements? 
Your visa arrangements are your responsibility. Please contact our reservations staff for assistance, or if you are unsure if you require a visa.

Travel insurance? 
All passengers are required to provide travel insurance details including policy number and emergency contact number to Aurora Expeditions prior to departure. We strongly recommend insurance coverage that includes emergency medical evacuation from the vessel.

Emergency contact details? 
So that you can be contacted in the case of an emergency, remember to provide your family or friends with a copy of your travel documents as well as Aurora Expeditions’ and your Ship’s contact numbers.

Remember to pack any valuables or essential items such as medication in your hand luggage to avoid issues in the case of lost baggage.

Arctic Landing & Wildlife Viewing Guidelines

Arctic Photography Hints

Arctic Polar Clothing

Arctic Recommended Reading

How to Book

Contact us

If you are interested in an Aurora Expeditions voyage, please contact our sales team to check availability.
Either email an expert here or call our experienced consultants direct on + 61 2 9252 1033 or 1800 637 688 (within Australia).

Complete a booking form

Once availability is confirmed, please download, print and complete the booking form. Please return it to us, along with your deposit to secure your berth.  Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions of contract before sending us your signed booking form.

Terms & Conditions

Click here to view the terms and conditions.

Preparation for your voyage

On receipt of the booking form, we will contact you to confirm your booking and our reservations staff will send you a comprehensive pre-departure kit. This kit will contain all necessary pre-departure information including visa information, insurance information, a medical and personal details form, comprehensive gear list and information tailored to your voyage.

Aurora Expeditions – Your Personal Travel Agent

Aurora Expeditions is a licensed travel agent. Our experienced reservations consultants all have specialised expertise on the destinations we travel to. Each voyage has a dedicated travel expert solely working on developing dynamic itineraries for our passengers.  Contact our reservations team and allow us to create a personal itinerary to compliment your voyage, including airfares, accommodation, travel insurance and pre and post voyage travel options.

We look forward to assisting you with your journey of a lifetime.

Extend your Holiday

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